Investor conference attracts 43 companies

Wednesday

A record 43 companies have signed up to compete for a spot in the fifth annual Willamette Angel Conference, which brings together startup and early-stage companies with “angel” investors.

Investor Jens Andersen, a Eugene CPA, said he has participated in the conference for several years, as well as a similar one in Bend, and that “this year’s group ... appears to be better potential investments top to bottom than any of those before.”

The angel investor group will narrow down the applicants in the coming weeks to 12 finalists who will compete at the conference in Corvallis on May 9 for a prize of at least $200,000.

The exact prize amount hasn’t been determined yet because “we are still taking on new member investors,” said Tim Berry, managing investor member of the conference and founder of Palo Alto Software in Eugene.

“We know we’ll have at least $200,000 but that amount could be much higher in a few weeks,” he said.

Berry said this year’s group of applicants is “a good range of industries and business types, including software and web businesses, medical technology, consumer goods, multimedia, and others.”

Fifteen of the companies vying for the prize are from Portland, eight from Eugene, seven from Corvallis, three from Bend and two from Washington state, Berry said.

The conference, which alternates between Eugene and Corvallis, is being produced by the Eugene Area Chamber of Commerce this year with help from business leaders in Eugene and Corvallis, the University of Oregon and Oregon State University.

For more information, visit www.willametteconference.com.

Never miss a story

Choose the plan that's right for you.
Digital access or digital and print delivery.

Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted.
The Register-Guard ~ 3500 Chad Drive, Suite 600, Eugene, OR 97408 ~ Privacy Policy ~ Terms Of Service